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Updated: Mar 24, 2021

Cameron Arnett's recent interview with Joshua Phillip of The Epoch Times reveals how this filmmaker is standing by principles to create films of value.


BY Pivotal R. Sales

March 7, 2021


Photo Credit: Courtesy of Camy Arnett Production Studios

"God said, 'Camy, don't make a film that has a great message without living a great life.'" This statement guided actor and filmmaker Camy "Cameron" Arnett on his journey of faith and integrity out of Hollywood into Christian film.


At the CONTENT 2020 Film Festival in Texas last month, Arnett shared this story with The Epoch Times' Joshua Philipp.

PHOTO CREDIT: CAPS

Arnett became known for his stance of leaving Hollywood at the height of his career. Having been on hits like Miami Vice, Doogie Howser M.D. and Star Trek: The Next Generation, he'd just been offered his own television series. When it required partial body nudity, he refused to compromise his values and walked away from the industry.


Regarding his choice, Arnett maintains that, "Our job is to always choose Christ. It's not

Christ or career. But make sure if you can only have one, that it's Christ you choose. If you're going to have a career, make sure He's over it."



Out of this conviction, the Christ Over Career campaign emerged. People all over the country have found encouragement in his rise from bankruptcy upon leaving Hollywood to becoming one of the leading actors in Christian film.


Supporters Justina and James Page took to social media saying, It's Christ Over Career for US!! Thanks so much for the shirt Cameron Arnett & BJ Billi Arnett. James Page has been rocking it!






Actor and writer Tonja Rene stated, I was given this shirt (and wearing it with pride) by my friend Cameron Arnett and his amazing bride BJ Billi Arnett at Content 2020 Film Festival Media Summit. I’m so blessed to be part of so many friends in the entertainment and media industry who are unashamed to stand for Christ and truth rather than sacrifice these things for a career. Our journey is unapologetically Christ over Career.



So what are those values that Arnett stands by and how have they translated into the rest of life? Principles of integrity and ingenuity are core values of Camy Arnett Production Studios, of which Arnett is CEO. Arnett told Philip, "The principles within my company are principles of my own humanity. Your team, your church, your business ought to be a principled centered business, a principled centered Church. You don't want to hear Him say 'I never knew you.'"


Arnett also spoke on the importance of Christian filmmakers esteeming the different messages within faith based content. Just as there is the five fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers within the church, there are also distinct purposes within the industry.


"All of the five fold handles a multifaceted God and are called to different sectors. Film is the same way. Some are called to evangelize the society. Others disciple and give principles. We have to esteem them all. We have to be able to promote Christ with each other and not just tell a good story."


Arnett maintained that those filmmakers with a principled centered message are as important as those with a more overt message. They prepare people for receiving Christ through the promotion of values such as marriage, family, brotherhood and overall civility. They all work in tandem and must be respected as such.

Philip stated that the quality of faith based content has grown in recent years largely due to the contributions of filmmakers such as Kevin Sorbo and the Kendrick brothers.



He maintained that the foundation of a great film is seeing the heroes grow. It's them overcoming trials by changing themselves through the process of overcoming.


PHOTO CREDIT: CAMY ARNETT PRODUCTION STUDIOS

To this, Arnett heralded the Kendrick brothers' ingenious style of framing relatable stories.


"What I loved about the Kendricks and Overcomer, is that at every point and time I can find a piece of myself in every character. You can identify with everyone at a different point and time in your life. It's about putting a life being lived in pictorial form and having someone say, 'Ok I can do that.'"


Arnett maintained that out of all that has come with success, "The most important thing is working among people whose lives have changed. There is nothing more satisfying than watching God illuminate someone. It's the entrance of God's Word that brings light. When they are able to emulate a life that they saw happening and find God's answer based on a film that they saw, I'm thrilled."


Follow Cameron Arnett on IG @CameronArnettActor.

For more go to cameronarnett.com today.

Updated: Mar 24, 2021

Press Release


CONTACT INFORMATION:

Camy Arnett Production Studios

Email: media@camyarnett.com

Phone: 404-422-3023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


How one actor gained worldwide recognition in one year


Atlanta, October 5, 2020 – On September 19, 2020, the Canadian International Faith and Family Film Festival (CIFF) awarded actor, author, director, producer and speaker, Cameron Arnett, Best Supporting Actor 2020 for his role of ‘Solomon Grant’ in Discarded Things. CIFF is one of the fastest growing segments of the international film festival markets and the only one of its kind in Canada.


This prestigious award comes on the heels of Cameron being awarded the 2020 Actor of the Year award by the International Christian Film and Music Festival (ICFF). ICFF is the largest national Christian film festival in the country and one of the largest internationally. It garners over 5,000 people yearly and awards films and filmmakers from around the world.


Cameron's trek began in the 1980's with roles in Star Trek, Doogie Howser, MD, China Beach and Miami Vice to name a few. At the height of his career, Cameron made a decision that not many would make. He left Hollywood to follow his personal convictions.


As life would have it, in 2013 he returned to the industry his way in a starring role in the full feature length film, Stand Your Ground. This was the beginning of many projects for Cameron. In August 2019, he landed the role of a lifetime, starring as Thomas Hill in the release of the Kendrick Brothers’ box office hit Overcomer, America’s #1 family film for 2019. The film has now been seen in 111 countries.


Director and producer Alex Kendrick had the following to say regarding Cameron's performance,


“In every film we've done there's always a character that will become the favorite character of the movie. In Overcomer, it's Thomas Hill played by Cameron Arnett. Cameron played that role so well. It is so difficult not to love this character, not to root for him.”


With Overcomer's release, local and national outlets covered Cameron’s story of leaving Hollywood to become one of the top actors in Christian film. Fox News, Movieguide, Life Today's Randy Robison, Entertainment Tonight's Lauren Zima and CBN News are among those that covered his story.


In December 2019, Cameron made his directorial debut with the full length feature film Mattie: The Discovery, a project for which he and his wife, Mrs. BJ Arnett, were executive producers.


In January 2020, Cameron graced the cover of Believer’s Voice of Victory.


In March 2020, Cameron joined the cast in the Erwin Brothers' film, I Still Believe, starring KJ Apa, Britt Robertson, Shania Twain, and Gary Sinise. I Still Believe was named No. 1 Romantic Movie to Watch in 2020 by Seventeen Magazine and recently won the 2020 Dove Awards Inspirational Film of the Year.


At present, Cameron’s portrayal of the abominable ‘Solomon Grant’ in Karen Abercrombie’s (‘Ms. Clara’ from War Room) film, Discarded Things, is available on Pure Flix. He has also appeared in The Wager, Tulsa and Order of Rights. Tulsa has been seen in Regal Theaters around the country and is the second highest grossing self-distributed film. Soon to be released are Angels Unaware, Preach, Don't Say My Name, Eleanor's Bench and Redeemed.

In between films and television shows, Cameron mentors and teaches master classes on The Light University platform. His narrative is a depiction of what can happen and will happen if you don't give up.


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For More...

To find out the latest about the actor, click here

www.cameronarnett.com


Follow Cameron Arnett on IG

@CameronArnettActor.


For interviews and bookings, click here

https://www.cameronarnett.com/speaker1

Updated: Oct 25, 2020



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